The National tribune., 1887-04-07

test the matter In the court. and suit was ac-
cordingly brought against Gen Mussey and his
bond to recover the $1,000. The jury late
Friday afternoon terminated the case by find
ing verdict for the defendant.
VARIED EXPERIENCE.
A man with keen, intelligent face, a shock
OF snow-white hair aud wearing a coat orna-
mented with large fiat buttons the size OF
silver dollar, strolIed into The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE office last week and stated that he
was Manuel Chapman, from New York. lit
tie conversation with him developed that he
had had most varied and interesting expert
ence. Before the war he had been hunter,
trapper, itinerant preacher, millwright and
colporteur. He was with Fremont when he
made his celebrated trip across the Continent
and gained the name of THE Pathfinder"
Subsequently he was a member OF another ex-
ploring party in the far West. He gained hon
orable mention both times. Some years before
the war he settled down in Clear Spring, Md,
and followed millwrighting. preaching and
colporteuring. When the war broke out he took
strong sides for the Union, and fired, probably,
the first shots of the war along the Potomac.
IL was learned that the rebels on the Virginia
side intended capturing a ferry-boat with
which the people of the neighborhOod crossed
the river. Chapman organized a party TO guard
it. One night the rebels slipped across the
river and got possession of the boat but Chap
man opened so hot fire on them that they
were compelled to abandon il, when IL was
taken back and sunk in the canal. Then,
under the authority Of the Governor of Mary
land, he raised company of los men. and con-
Quoted them to Harpers Ferry. He served
with them until he was disabled, when he re-
turned home. lie had married Virginia
woman, who was as strongly rebel as he was
UNION, and on his return home her son, by a
former husband, attacked him with knife,
aud wounded him SO severely that be was laid
up for long time. After he had recovered
somewhat he reported to Gen. Kelly, who had
come down from Cumberland to aid in haras-
sing the rebels. who were retreating from Get
tysburg. At tho imminent peril Of his life,
Chapman penetrated the rebel lines, and
brought back valuable information as 10 the
numbers and position of the rebels. lie was
recognized as he was leaving, and force OF
800 rebel cavalry was sent after him. They
chased him TO Gen. Kelly's headquarters, but
were driven back by canister from gun
which the General ordered TO be opened upon
them.
In spite Of his age and the hardships he has
experienced he is as active and vigorous as
most men at 30. He has voice like trumpet,
is famous walker. and follows the business of
stump-pulling of which he makes quite sue
cess.
My regular stint" he said, =" is 200 stumps a
day, but next year / intend TO enlarge my ia
ciities and expect 10 be able 10 pull an aver
age OF 1000 stumps day"
He also breaches wherever his services may
be required. aud is a vigorous aud effective
speaker at GAR. meetings. he called on the
! President. and interested the people OF the
| White House very much with his eccentric,
but bright and forceful ways and words.
The buttons of his coat he prizes very highly.
| His grandfather wore them in the Revolution,
| his father in the war Of 1872, and he himself
| in the rebellion.
THE LIFE OF A DEPARTMENT CLERK.
There is not perhaps, any more monotonous
! life, especially 10 young men during working
hours, than that of Government clerk. lie IS
closed up, As a rule in most Departments, and
never sees any one except the other clerks in
the Office. The rules prohibit visitors during
office hours; and il is no wonder that young
men who come here TO work in the Departments
soon become sallow-complexioned,a and lose all
ambition after getting 10 be a little part Of the
| great Government machine-day after day do
/ ing the same monOtonous work, with nc
| variety. A man who has been in the War De.
partment for over quarter of century, In
speaking or Government life and its tendency
20 crush out of young men all ambition, recited
! his own history as an example.
He said that at the outbreak of the war he
was about 30 years old and held position in the
business Office OF New York paper. He wa
receiving fair salary, out Of which he had
managed 10 save several thousand dollars. He
came 10 Washington Just after the firing OF
| Fort Sumter, expecting TO be able to secure
some Government contracts, but like most peo
pie who come here with great expectations, ht
was doomed 10 disappointment At that tins
il was easy 70 get an appointment in the Gov
| eminent service, il the applicant was compe
| tent. He made application for and secured 1
clerkship at $1,000 a year. Ho thought at tina
time he would be able after a short while to SO
cure another position in the business world
He got married soon after his appointment A
he had been used 70 busy, busting life the &C
| cupation OF Government clerk didn't ex
actly suit him. Time rolled on; the wa
was over and he was still in the Department
The idea Of some day being again in CONNER
cial life fingered with him. however. bot ever,
year. as his family grew larger. the chances o
ever leaving Uncle Sans tread mill dimin
ished, until now this hope is only a thing o
the past. His boys grew up 10 manhood. ant
he started each OF them in some kind Of bust
ness. One is ia New York wholesale jobbin
house another is the clerk OF the court in
Western town, aud one OF its leading citizen:
while the other is bank clerk in Philadelphia
" None of them are over %, and the one i
Philadelphia is not OF age; yet the two oldes
get as great a salary as do after over % year
service in the War Department, and they ar
thought something of" said the clerk.
% No, young man, never enter a Government
Department { you don't want TO die unthough
Of and unknown. You will probably be dis
missed after years ofservice, unfit for any Othe
life 1t makes ME feel bad. actually, when
See bright-eyed, ambitious young fellows ente
the civil service 10 become in a few years jadeC
sunkcn-eyed old men,"